Contact pin design for a modular jack

• US 6,599,152 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Madsen, Brent D., Oliphant, David, Johnson, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchi
• Application Number:
  US10/150,034
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 439/660, 439/62, 439/676, 439/946, 439/354, 439/602, 439/79, 439/76.1, 439/418
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/946 Memory card cartridge

Abstract

A communications card allows computers to be electrically connected to electronic devices and communications systems. The communications card includes a modular jack with a plurality of contact pins. The contact pins include a plug engaging portion that does not include any sections that are angled more than about 90° in order to minimize the stresses in the contact pins. The contact pins also include a connector portion that allows the contact pins to be electrically connected to a printed circuit board disposed within the communications card. Preferably, the plug engaging portion includes an elongated arm that aids in absorbing stress and deflection of the contact pins. Advantageously, the contact pins are designed to minimize the height of the modular jack such that the modular jack can be used with communications cards that comply with the PCMCIA Type III standards.

Claims

1. A contact pin that is sized and configured to allow electrical communication to be established with an electrical connector, the contact pin being at least partially disposed within a receptacle that has a height and a length, the receptacle being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the electrical connector, the contact pin comprising:

a plug engaging portion that flexibly engages the connector when the connector is inserted into the receptacle, the plug engaging portion comprising;

a proximal end located proximate a front portion of the receptacle;

an angled section connected to the proximal end and being sized and configured to engage the connector plug as it is inserted into the receptacle, the angled section connected to the proximal end at an angle less than about 60°

;

an elongated arm connected to the angled section at an angle less than about 60°

, the elongated arm having a length generally equal to or greater than the length of the receptacle; and

a distal end connected to the elongated arm and positioned proximate a rear portion of the receptacle;

wherein no portion of the plug engaging portion is angled at more than 90°

to reduce stress concentrations in the contact pin; and

a connection portion connected to the distal end of the plug engaging portion, the connection portion being sized and configured to electrically connect the contact pin to an electrical contact.

2. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the deflection of the plug engaging portion when the connector is inserted into the receptacle includes a horizontal component and a vertical component, the horizontal component of the deflection being generally equal to or greater than the vertical component of the deflection.

3. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the elongated arm of the plug engaging portion has a length that is greater than twice the length of the receptacle.

4. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the angled section and the elongated arm of the plug engaging portion are joined at an angle generally equal to or less than about 30°

.

5. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the angled section and the elongated arm extend generally along the same axis.

6. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the proximal end and the distal end of the plug engaging portion of the contact pin are generally aligned in a parallel configuration.

7. The contact pin as in claim 1, farther comprising a curved section and an engagement section of the connection portion, the curved section being formed at an angle generally equal to or greater than about 90°

.

8. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the connection portion generally does not deflect when the contact pin is inserted or removed from the receptacle.

9. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the connection portion is sized and configured to electrically connect the contact pin to a printed circuit board.

10. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the plug engaging portion is generally slidably disposed within a groove located proximate a front portion of the receptacle.

11. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the plug engaging portion is generally disposed in a fixed position within a groove located proximate a front portion of the receptacle.

12. The contact pin as in claim 1, wherein the same contact pin can be used to establish electrical communication with both an RJ-11 type connector plug and a RJ-45 type connector plug.

13. A connector that allows electrical communication to be established with a communications plug, the connector comprising:

a receptacle including an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion and a rear portion, the receptacle being sized and configured to selectably receive at least a portion of the communications plug; and

a contact pin at least partially disposed within the receptacle, the contact pin comprising;

a plug engaging portion including a proximal end, an angled section, an elongated arm and a distal end, the proximal end being positioned proximate the front end of the receptacle, the angled section being sized and configured to engage the communications plug as the plug is being inserted into the receptacle, the elongated arm including a length, and the distal end being positioned proximate the rear portion of the receptacle;

the proximal end, the angled section, the elongated arm and the distal end of the plug engaging portion each being joined at an angle less than about 90°

in order to minimize stresses in the contact pin as the connector plug is inserted or removed from the receptacle; and

a connection portion connected to the distal end of the plug engaging portion, the connection portion being sized and configured to electrically connect the contact pin to an electrical contact.

14. The connector as in claim 13, wherein the connection portion generally does not deflect when the communications plug is either inserted or removed from the receptacle.

15. The connector as in claim 13, wherein the plug engaging portion deflects when the communications plug is inserted into the receptacle;

and wherein the deflection of the plug engaging portion includes both a horizontal component and a vertical component, the horizontal component being generally equal to or larger than the vertical component.

16. The connector as in claim 13, wherein the angled section and the elongated arm of the plug engaging portion are joined at an angle generally equal to or less than about 30°

.

17. The connector as in claim 13, wherein the elongated arm of the plug engaging portion has a length that is generally greater than a length of the receptacle.

18. The connector as in claim 17, wherein the elongated am of the plug engaging portion has a length that is greater than twice the length of the receptacle.